Greetings all,
On this day we reflect with sadness on the banishment of the Empress Irena to the Island of Lesbos on October 31st in 802 AD:
Conspirators placed Nikephoros on the throne in her stead and Irene was reduced to spinning wool to support herself in exile. She was later made a Saint for her efforts in restoring the veneration of Icons, and her feast day is August 7th.
Interestingly
it is believed she had thought of marrying Charlemagne and thereby
linking the East and West once again, but the plan was frustrated by one
of her court favorites. Not only did Irene restore Icons, she might
possibly have restored the Roman Empire after a fashion.
-Marcus Cassius Julianus
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